Afflalo, Rubio and Love will play in tonight's 'Wolves-Magic game

By Josh Robbins | Orlando Sentinel

As expected, Arron Afflalo will play for the Orlando Magic when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves tonight at Amway Center, while dynamic point guard Ricky Rubio and All-Star power forward Kevin Love will play for the Timberwolves.

“He’ll play tonight,” coach Jacque Vaughn said after the team completed its shootaround today.

Rubio is nine months removed from a serious knee injury, and on Saturday, he played in his first game since he underwent reconstructive surgery. He told Minnesota-based reporters following the T-Wolves' shootaround today that he will play tonight but will sit out Tuesday night’s game in Miami.

Love, who missed Saturday’s game because he was sick, also said he will play tonight.

Love didn’t play when the T-Wolves crushed the Magic 90-75 on Nov. 7 in Minneapolis.

“They’re a team that beat us pretty handily early in the season, so we’re going to have our hands full,” Magic sixth man J.J. Redick said.

“And they’re healthy now, or getting there, with Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio back. We have to defend the pick-and-roll well. [Luke] Ridnour, [J.J.] Barea, [Alexey] Shved and Rubio are all really good pick-and-roll players. And then, obviously, we have to play really good post defense and rely on some help with Kevin Love and [Nikola] Pekovic.”

The Timberwolves (12-9) are on a four-game winning streak.

The Magic (10-13) will attempt to win a third consecutive game for the first time under Vaughn.

“I think we’re starting to develop more chemistry and play a lot better,” said Magic point guard Jameer Nelson, who sat out November’s game against Minnesota because of an injury.

“Even in some of the losses, you can see a lot more good things happening for us.”

The Minnesota Timberwolves aren’t pushovers anymore. Just ask the Orlando Magic, who lost to them in Minneapolis in early November. The Magic arguably are a better team now. But how much better? Tonight should provide a clue.

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